1 



3535 



iN&STAG-rLiVtfS -I- NO. 9. 




tc-MONTAUtNS • Ntwvonr 



THE FLYING STAG PLAYS 
For the Little Theatre 



No. 



THE WIDOW'S VEIL 



COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY 

EGMONT ARENS 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 



The professional and amateur stage rights on 
this play are strictly reserved by the author. Ap- 
plication for permission to produce the play should 
be made to Egmont Arens, 17 West 8th Street, 
New York City. 

While it is hoped that the publication of the 
plays in this series will encourage their produc- 
tion in all parts of the country, it is held that the 
interf^st:^ of the New Theatre movement can best 
be served by vigorous protection of the play- 
wrights, Avithout whom the movement cannot go 
forward. 

Therefore, any infringements of the author's 
rights will be punished by the penalties imposed 
UTider the United States Revised Statutes, Title 
60, Chapter 3. 

The Publisher. 



M -2 mi 



The WIDOW'S VEIL 
A Comedy in One Act ▼ by 
Alice Rostetter :: as played by 
the Provincetown Players 



Published by EGMONT AREiNS at the 

JVashsngton Square Bookshop > New York 

1920 



CHARACTERS 

Katy MacManus (she's young and married) 
Mrs. Phelan, her neighbor, to your left 
Voices and Other Sounds 

TIME: Twenty-four hours and not so long ago. 
PLACE: The meeting place of tender-hearted 
women. The floor's the fifth, 

THE WIDOW'S VEIL 

was hrst produced by the Provincetown Players 
at the Playwrights' Theatre, New York, on Jan- 
uary 17, 1919, with the following cast : 

Katy MacManus, She's Young and Married, 

Mary Payne 
Her Neighbor, Mrs. Phelan, to Your Left, 

Alice Rostetter 
Voices and Other Sounds, 

Lewis B. Ell and Others 

Directed by George Cram Cook 



©CI.0 57818 



StHE WIDOW'S VEIL 



G2 



[The curtain rises on a dumb-waiter shaft. 
Rear, stands the opposite wall, the bricks tvorn 
a gray drab in the cracks. There's the rope 
in the center and the side ropes are vibrating 
still. The closed doors into the kitchens, right 
and left, are seen and there's silence on the 
two sides. The doors into the kitchens on the 
floors above and below can not be seen but 
the sounds emanating from them are distin- 
guishable. From the floor above, the sixth 
floor left, comes muMed the crying of an 
irritable baby, and from the cellar comes a 
voice, bad-tempered and with an edge on it. 
'Tis the voice, the official voice, of the Janitor.] 

VOICE OF JANITOR 
Garbage ! 

[The tivo kitchen doors on the floor belozv, the 
fourth floor, promptly open with two clicks, 
the two pails are slammed on and the two 
doors shut. The Janitor is heard whipping 
down the dumb-waiter, dumping the two cans 
empty, replacing them, giznng two of the 
shortest whistles. Then the dumb-zvaiter is 
whipped up; the two doors opened, the two 
pails taken off. The dumb-waiter appears at 
stage level, the fifth floor, and the two zvhistles 
shrill right and left. A careful step is heard 
and Mrs. Phelan opens the door.] 



6 THi: WIDOW S VEIL 

MRS. PHELAN 

Good-momin/ Mr. Kelly. 

VOICE OF JANITOR 

Garbage ! 

[He blows, sharper than ever, the whistle of 
the kitchen, right. Mrs. Phelan is heard put- 
ting on her light pail. The dumb-ivaiter is 
whipped out of sight. Mrs. Phelan is re- 
vealed from the waist up; the merest glimpse 
of a kitchen wall and comer of a nearby table 
can be seen. Mrs. Phelan is very neat and 
in dull-colored clothes. The hope-of-better- 
things-turning-up never smiled from her face. 
Her hair is graying and drab-colored. She 
leans out and talks dowTi.] 

MRS. PHELAN 

ril be takin' her milk off, Mr. Kelly. She's maybe 
sleepin", — or readin' 



[She leans across and knocks on the door; no 
one comes. The zvhistle, left, , blows; the 
waiter shoots up. Mrs. Phelan takes off her 
pail and her neighbor's milk and bread. As 
the waiter shoots up to the floor above she is 
seen disappearing and her door slipping shut. 
On the sixth floor the two zvhistles blow and 
the two doors are opened and the crying of 
tite baby comes down from the edge of the 
kitchen door, left.] 



ALICE ROSTKTTER / 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR RIGHT 

[An easy young voice and cJuerfuL] 
Good-morn in', Mrs. Tynan, and how's the little 
one to-day? 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 
[A sarcastic voice made bitter by lack of sleep.] 
Ye can hear how, can't ye ? Not a thing the mat- 
ter with him save his father's bad temper. 

[She slatus on Iter pail, punctuaiing her belief.] 
And I'll get that out of him, if I haf to — 
[The door left slams shut.] 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR RIGHT 
[Talking back into the room.] 

And did you hear that, Maggie! 

[She puts on her pail : then, as the znbrating 
ropes jerk tight, comes a sharp but polite — ] 

Can't you wait, Mr. Kelly. I've more for you. 
[Slightly fainter, but distinct, as she bends to 
lift her package.] 

And, Maggie, that's married bliss for you. It's us 

old maids 

[Strong, as she puts on the package.] 

is the lucky ones, 

[The dumb-waiter Hies doum.] 

believe me ! 

[Her door shuts. The pails are slammed back, 
the umfer flies past and up, the two zvhistles 
shrill and the cellar door bangs shut. The door, 
sixth floor left, opens, the baby squalling clear 
again: the Pail snatched off and the door shut. 
The door, sixth floor right, opens.] 



8 THE \VIL?0VV'S VEIL 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR RIGHT 

[As she rcmoz'es pail and until politic smooth- 
ness, calling doum — ] 
Mr. Kelly, will you be doin' me a small favor? 

[Silence.] 
Mr. Kelly! 

[With sincerity.] 
The old crank! 

[The door is slammed shut. Silence. The wind 
makes a faint, mournful sound up the shaft. 
A voice from the Hoar beloiv is heard hum- 
ming a bit of happy song. The ivind again 
keens faint. Mrs. Phelan opens her door, 
left, leans across and listens. There's no 
sound. She leans further out. After a second 
more she knocks, clear and determined. A 
step is heard. She knocks again. The door, 
right, opens slow.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
Good mornin', Mrs. MacManus. 

[Mrs. MacManus looks out. Ah, but she's 
young and pretty. The red hair on her is bright 
and warm as a flame; the zvhite skin on her, 
soft. But she's pale and tired now and her 
two eyes have been iveeping. She's on a blue 
kimono of the shade of her eyes when they're 
glad. Her depressed manner zvarms up with a 
flick of impatience as she answers.] 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Ah, it's you that can say good-mornin', Mrs. 
Phelan, and no troubles at all. 



ALICE ROSTETl-ER 9 

MRS. PHELAN 
[With pleasurable, but restrained, anticipation.] 
And is it trouble ye have? 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[The gulp in her voice now.] 
Me man's wurse! 

MRS. PHELAN 
Wurse? And me not knowin' he was sick. 

[Mrs. MacManus nods, biting her red lips to 
keep the zveeping back.] 

Poor soul ! pour soul ! ! But the good Lord will be 
helpin' ye, Mrs. MacManus. He — 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Sharp again.] 
I'm not doubtin' that, Mrs. Phelan, and me as 
good a Catholic as y'rself. 

[Her lips are at it again.] 
But 

Oh — oh — Mrs. Phelan, he's goin' on me ! 

MRS. PHELAN 
Goin*? Houly Mary, is it dyin' ye mean? 

[Mrs. MacManus, with a nod and a loud 
ketch in her voice, begins to sob.] 

There, there, now ! Ye poor young thing ! And 
me seein' him only yisterday buyin* the mornin' 
eggs for ye. Ttt-ttt ! And him so hale and hearty — 
seemin'. 



iO THE widow's veil 

MRS. MacMANUS 

'Twas near night he was taken. Ah — 

[In a burst of nervous, strained energy.] 
Mrs. Phelan, the horror is on me still, and me 
sittin' quiet and lone the night through! 

MRS. PHELAN 

[Visibly cheering.] 
Ah, be tellin' me all, Mrs. MacManus. 'Twill ease 
the heart of ye. 

[Briskly, working in her metier, gossip.] 
Let you bring up a chair and be kneelin' comfort- 
able. 

[Mrs. MacManus nods. They disappear, Mrs. 
Phelan reappearing first and fixing herself 
for a long talk. She shakes her head with the 
long sorrow, like a healthy person at a wake. 
She raises her hands in rich despair. Mrs. 
MacManus reappears, arranging a bright 
shawl carefully over her shoulders; she drapes 
it over her shoulders, her features both woe- 
begone and interested in the hanging of the 
goods.] 

MRS. PHELAN 

[A little impatient.] 
It hangs fine, Mrs. MacManus. Be tellin' me all! 
'Twill ease y'r heart. 

[Mrs. MacManus leans, graceful and tired.] 
Begin at the beginnin'. 



ALICE ROSTETIER U 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[The heartache in her voice.] 
Himself came home yester e'en and the clock at 
four. 

MRS. PHELAN 
At four! Was he red? 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Careful] 
Not at four. He was white like — like — 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Nodding, understanding.] 
the bit stone at the head of a gra — 

MRS. MacMANUS 
and the blood all gone from his face, Mrs. Phelan. 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Nodding, fatal.] 
Twas them chills. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
And his hand cold— cold as the hand of a marble 
saint. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Ye don't say that! 

MRS. MacMANUS 
And he'd the pain in his head and the throat of 
him burnin' like hot peat. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Ah, now, now ! Ah, 'tis true, Mrs. MacManus, in 
the midst of life we're in death. And what's the 
doctor namin' it? 



12 THE widow's veil 

MRS. MacMANUS 
And would he let a doctor in the house, and me 
beggin* him one hour by the clock and the tears 
in me eyes! 

MRS. PHELAN 
Ah, ye should not be askin' him, ye poor young 
bride. Just have the man in. I'll step around me- 
self and be askin' the doctor to have a look in. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Ye're kind, Mrs. Phelan. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Not at all. But I'm feerin' it's too late. Them 
•chills is — 

[Mrs. MacManus breaks down and sobs.] 
There, there, now, dearie — 

[She pats her across the shaft, forcing hope, to 
be kind.] 
It's maybe it's only a germ it is, and them that 
thick in the street. 

[Mrs. MacManus sobs the harder.] 
Now, now, ye'll blubber all the pretty out of y'r 
face. 

[Mrs. MacManus futnbles about for a hand- 
kerchief.] 
Is it a hangkercheef ye want? 

[She extracts one from her apron belt.] 
Me cousin's after leavin' it here, 

[She examines the border.] 
on the way home from Mr. Reilly's wake. 

[She passes it across.] 
Ye'll not mind the black border, I hope. 



ALICE ROSTETTER 13. 

[Mrs. MacManus, grasping it, sobs violently^ 
like a child.] 
Ah, now, don't take on. It's not stretched out he 
is yet. Not yet, dearie. Not yet. Be tellin' me 
more and ease y'r heart. 

[She sutns up brightly.] 
He came home at four and the hand of him alt 
like the hand of a corpse. Ttt, ttt! And straight 
he wint for the bed. And then? 

MRS. MacMANUS 

[Sobbing more quietly.] 
He wouldn't eat the meat I was fixin', the way he 
likes, with me own two hands. And at nine by the 
clock he starts mutterin' and tossin' and twistin'' 
like a soul in the black depths of hell. And — 

[She looks up.] 
I takes a chair and I sits beside him and I tries 
catchin' hold of his hand and kissin' it, the way 
he'll be always doin' and him in his health. And — 

[A bright spark of anger lights up her eye.] 

Ye'll not believe what I'm tellin* ye, Mrs. Phelaiu 

MRS. PHELAN 

[Nodding affirmation.] 
Go on, Mrs. MacManus. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
What does he do but snatch back his hand and 
curses like the mad king of Kildare. And me — and 
mc — 

[She resumes a gentle weeping.] 
MRS. PHELAN 

[Solemnly.] 
A ten-day bride ! Go on, Mrs. MacManoi* 



14 THE W]IX)W'S \hlL 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[A little indistinctly.] 
And, says he, shoutin' : "Can't ye be leavin' me, 
to die in peace — for one moment!" Oh, Mrs. 
Phelan, the red face of him, and his eyes closed 
in it, 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Recording ike change.] 
'Twas red by that — in spots? 

MRS. MacM.\NI]'S 
No, just plain. And me watchin' it the clock 
'round. 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Again summing up.] 
Red — and hot — and his mind bad. Poor young 
thing! Poor young thing! But go on, while ye 
can. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
And when the cold mornin' light comes stralin' in, 
and the clock at four, he stops mutterin' and 
tossiu', and lies still, except for the sound in his 
throat. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Glory be to God. Mrs. MacManus, it's the end! 
It's the rattl— 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Alarmed.] 
What d'ye mean, Mrs. Phelan? 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Rapidly, easing her ozvn h-eart and keeping 
the raw truth, as she sees it, from Mrs. 
MacManus.] 



ALICE ROSTETTER 15 

Ye'Il be knowin' soon enough. Arra, arra, it's the 
like of that hangkercheef ye'll be usin' soon. But 
go on, Mrs. MacManus, go on. Ah, it's the night 
ye had. 

MRS. MacMANU'S 
[Looking at her for further comfort.^ 
And sittiii on me chair, thinkin*, it comes to me 
sodden and quick 'twas warnin' me Pat was, Sun- 
day night last. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Warnin' ye? 

MRS. MacMANUS 
I'm knowin' now he had a prcsintement of what 
was to come. Says he — the night of Sunday — ye 
know his bright way — says he: "Katy, if I go to 
join the angels afore you do — " 

MRS. PHELAN 
Sakcs ! 

MRS. MacMANUS 
" — ye must be marryin' again. Ye're too pretty to 
be livin* alone, though," says he, smilin*, "the 
widow'vS veil will become ye fine, and that hair 
warmm' the heart of a man. It'll set ye fine, 
Katy." 

MRS. PHELAN 
It will. Ye'vc a black skirt ? 

[Mrs. MacManus gives a cry, all tears and 
despair, and a bit of protest. Mrs, Phklan 
speaks sternly.] 
Ye must be ready, out of respect for the good tnan. 
Have ye a waist will do? 



16 THE widow's VHIL 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[MufHed, patient, despairing.] 
M-e new one with the gold lace and — 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Nodding, business-like.] 
the little vest! 'Twill do fine and easy fixed. 
Have ye a bit of a bonnet? 

MRS. MacMANUS 
The black one with the blue wing lyin' down at 
the side. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Fine ! Yes, ye've the color for the veil. And ye'Il 
not be buyin' it, Mrs. MacManus, for me cousin'll 
lend it to ye — 

[A gesture of protest from Mrs. MacManus. 
Reassuring her.] 
and glad of the chance, Mrs. MacManus. 

[Mrs. MacManus is sobbing regularly and 
with less control each sob.] 
She's after showin' it to me. It's that fine 'twould 
do y'r heart good. There, now! And the hem, 
Mrs. MacManus, the hem! 

[Mrs. MacManus gives a rending sob, flings 

up her tii>o hands in an agony and disappears. 

The door shuts behind her. Mrs. Phelan 

shakes her head after her in real syfnpathy.] 

The poor young thing ! 

[Titen she straightens up, taking off her apron. 
Briskly.] 
VU be iteppin' out now, for the doctor. 



ALICE ROSTETTER 17 

[The smile leaves her face and she nods her 
head reverently, talking as if in the presence 
of the corpse.] 
And him that was always so hearty. Poor young 
thing, poor young thing! 

[She slips out, closing her door quietly. All 
is still for a moment, then the faint wind is 
again beginning to be heard. The door, sixth 
floor left, opens and the crying of the baby, 
distant from an inner room, comes down. 
The Woman Sixth Floor Left rattles the 
dumb-waiter rope and waits. There's a care- 
ful, faint sound from the cellar, as the cellar 
door is opened on a crack.] 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 
Mr. Kelly, there's no stame at all. 

[Silence.] 
There's not one drop of heat in the pipes and the 
children comin' home from school. 

[Silence, with the breath of two people present 

in it.] 
Y're there, Mr. Kelly, that I know. And I'll have 
the landlord on ye, for y'r insubordina — 

[Door of fourth floor left opens. Joyous noise 

of hungry children.] 

VOICE OF WOMAN FOURTH FLOOR LEFT 

[A gentle, motherly voice.] 
And here's the children, Mr. Kelly, and the pipes— 
VOICE OF LITTLE GIRL 

[Fourth floor left.] 
Here's Johnny Phelan come for lunch, Mither. 



18 THE widow's veil 

VOICE OF JOHNNY PHELAN 
Me mudder's out. 
VOICE OF WOMAN FOURTH FLOOR LEFT 

[Speaking into the room.] 
Sit ye down there. 
VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 

[Loud.] 
This is me last wurd, Mr. Kelly. The breath is 
leavin' me body in the form of ice ! 

[There's a faint noise in the cellar of a door 
cautiously closed.] 
VOICE OF WOMAN FOURTH FLOOR LEFT 

[Bright and ready for a talk.] 
Ye're right, Mrs. Tynan. He was there. 

[The door above slams shut.] 

\S peaking back into the room.] 
Be givin* Johnny Phelan some of your tea. 

[The door closes. Again, the sound of a faint 

wind. The whistle, sixth floor left, blows, with 

floivery indirection; the cellar door opens and 

a man zvhistles the first half of a phrase from 
Santa Lucia. The door of the sixth floor left 
opens.] 

PLEASANT ITALIAN VOICE 
Ice-a man, Lady? 

[A wail from the baby escapes.] 
VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 

[Baited, angry.] 
No! 

[The Italian completes with the phrase, cloS' 
ing the cellar door. Silence. A moment of 

wind. The whistle, sixth floor right, blows 



ALICE ROSTETTER 19 

with irritable precision. The cellar door opens. 
Pause. Whistle: irritable crescendo. Pause. 
Whistle. Pause.] 

VOICE OF GROCER 
[Teutonic and disagreeable.] 

De grozzer ! 

Gott in Himmel, dieses — 

[Door closes with restrained fury. Silence. 
Sounds, left, from Mrs. Phelan's kitchen. 
She is moving about. A sizzling and pleasant 
smell escapes, as her door opens. She still has 
her hat on; her face is busy and cheerful. She 
disappears a moment and then reappears with 
part of bottle of milk and part of a loaf of 
bread. She knocks quietly but distinctly. She 
knocks a second time. The door right opens. 
Mrs. MacManus stands, weak and pale and 
patient.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Handing the milk and bread across.] 
Here's the mornin's milk, and y'r bread. 

[Mrs. MacManus takes them, putting them 
down right.] 

And here's — 

[Mrs. Phelan turns back and brings up from 
the nearby table, a tray with luncheon.] 
a bit of lunch I'm after fixin' for you. 

[She hands it across.] 

Better late than never. Ye must eat, Mrs. Mac- 
Manus, even with the black sorrow in the house. 



20 THE widow's veil . ' 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[In a weak voice.] 
It's only a sup of tea I've had and the day near its 
end. The lump in me throat — but I'll try, Mrs. 
Phelan. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Be puttin' it on the table there, so's we can talk. 

[Mrs. MacManus does.] 
And himself — is he — 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Looking up, ready to take heart if she only 
may.] 
He's a bit conscious now — 

[Mrs. Phelan^s face drops.] 
but I'm not darin' to hope. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Y're right, Mrs. MacManus. They're always bet- 
ter before they're worse. I left word with the 
doctor. 

[Taking off her hat.] 
He was out deliverin' a woman. Awh, it's won- 
derful, Mrs. MacManus, the way a new soul 
comin' in brushes past the old one — 

[Pointijtg into Mrs. MacManus' room.] 
goin' out. 

[Mrs. MacManus chokes at bit on her toast. 
Cheering her.] 
And now hear the good news. Me cousin's after 
lendin' ye the veil. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Putting dozvn her tea.] 
Ah, the sharp sorrow's on me again at the word! 



ALICE ROSTETTER 21 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Mechanically, undoing the package.] 
Wisha, darlin', ye may never need it. And I have 
it right here. 

[Mrs. MacManus pushes the tray aside. In- 
gratiating.] 
Will ye be seein' it ? How soft it hangs ! 

[She is now holding the veil in the shaft.] 
And the hem — it's two inches, it is. Will ye be 
weighin' it, in j''r hand ; it's that light. 
MRS. MacMANUS 
[Weighing it.] 
'Tis light. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Where's the bit hat ye was tellin' me of? 

MRS' MacMANUS 
It's under the bed. Himself maybe will be seein' 
me. 

MRS. PHELAN 
And what if he does, darlin', and the blue wing 
yet on it. 

[Mrs. MacManus passes back the veil and dis- 
appears. Mrs. Phelan holds it up, half drap- 
ing it. Mrs, MacManus hands over the hat.] 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[A tremor in her voice.] 
I've the scissors here. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Thanks. Be drinkin' y'r tea, that's the gurl. Easy 
on, 

[She snips off the wing.] 
easy off. Let me see what way it looks on ye. 



22 THE widow's veil 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Putting it on deftly, giving a touch to her 
hair.] 
It would be different with the wing off? 
[There's a little worry in her voice.] 
MRS. PHELAN 
Ye should see the way it looks. And now be 
tryin' the veil. I've the pins with me. 
[She passes one over.] 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Ye're good to me, Mrs. Phelan, takin' all thiiS pains. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Oh, I'm enjoyin' it fine, Mrs. MacManus! Now 
take the short end — that's it — and put it — See if 
I can be reachin' you. Now pin that back — there. 
Ah, now, will ye look! Ye were born for the 
style ! Ye should never wear anything else. 
MRS. MacMANUS 
[Pleased.] 
Ye like it fine? I'll have another pin if ye have it. 

MRS. PHELAN 
The white neck of ye. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
It would look well? 

MRS. PHELAN 
And the hair of ye, lickin' out like a little flame — 
and dancin' on y'r ear. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[With desire.] 
I wonder could I be seein' meself? 

MRS. PHELAN 
And what's to prevent? 



ALICE ROSTETTER 23 

MRS. MacMANUS 

[Smiling.] 
Nothin' that I know. 

[She turns toward the room.] 
I'll be gettin' the glass. 

MRS. PHELAN 
[In horror.] 
Glory be to God, Mrs. MacManus, stop ! 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Turning a face of pure disappointment.] 
I could be goin' in on me toes. He's sleepin' fine. 

MRS. PHELAN 
Would ye kill the man, and this his last moment I 
Whst, wait. I'll be bringin' me own glass. 

[She disappears. Mrs. MacManus iixes the 

folds, seeing them with her fingers. She hums 

a bit as she tries to see the effect of the long 

ripple of goods down her back. Mrs. Phelan 

reappears, holding out the glass.] 

Here, darlin'. Take the side look first. Ain't that 

pretty? And the white neck of ye gleamin' against 

the dark. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Surveying it zvith pleasure.] 
In his health, he will be always kissin' it, will Pat. 

MRS. PHELAN 
And why not — and you lookin' like the queen of all 
Ireland — and the king dead. 

[The door bell in the kitchen rings sharp. Mrs. 
MacManus, with a start, clutches her bosom.] 



24 THE widow's veil 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Mary, save me! What's that? 
[They wait, listening.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Slowly.] 
It's maybe the doctor. 

[Mrs. MacManus turns abruptly, about to ga 
in. Mrs. Phelan speaks in sharp alarm.] 
Hould, woman! And you meetin' the doctor like 
that, he'll be havin' you up for murder. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Going to pieces, in wild excitement and tear- 
ing the thing off her head.] 
Ye'll all have the heart torn out of me, pullin' me 
this way and that. 

[She thrusts over the hat and veil. The door- 
bell rings a second time. She disappears and 
the dumb-waiter door shuts.] 

MRS. PHELAN 

[The hat on her hand and straightening out the 

folds.] 
The Houly Mother protect them both, him dyin' 
and her breakin' her heart for the loss of him. 

[Giving a last look at the hat and veil, exhib- 
ited on her hand.] 
The poor, pretty young thing! 

[She closes the door, disappearing. The shaft 

grows dark and the wind keens a bit stronger^ 

Door fourth floor left opens.] 



ALICE ROSTETTER 25 

VOICE OF MAN FOURTH FLOOR LEFT 
Well? No, Biddie, there's no one at the whistle. 
And I says to the boss — 

[Door closes. Silence. Mrs. Phelan opens her 
door slowly, cautiously. She listens. Quiet. 
She gives a long mournful sigh and closes the 
door. The baby on sixth floor left starts 
crying.] 

VOICE OF MAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 
[Near door.] 
What the divil's the matter with him now? 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 

Nothin's the matter, save his father's bad temp — 

[Quiet. Mrs. Phelan opens her door, listens, 

shakes her head with sorrowful satisfaction.] 

MRS. PHELAN 

Rest his soul. Whsst, Johnny ! 
[Johnny galumps near.] 

Shh, a man's dyin' within. Be goin' down to the 

door and see if the black crepe's up. 

[Mrs. Phelan takes out a handkerchief and 
still listening keenly, begins to zveep and sniff.} 

VOICE OF JOHNNY 
[In a penetrating whisper.] 
Not yet, mither ! I looked before. 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Disappointed, but feelingly.] 
It's a long passing. 

[She closes door. Silence.] 



26 THE WIDOWS VEIL 

VOICE OF LITTLE GIRL 
[Fourth floor left.] 
It's me prayers I'm doin', mither, 
[Pause.] 

VOICE OF MAN FOURTH FLOOR LEFT 
Good-night, sweet Biddie Murphy. 

[Silence. The wind keens a bit. Sleepy fretting 
of a child. Slippered feet on oil-cloth^ left. 
Mrs. Phelan^ her hair done smooth in a tight 
pig-tail and in her night-goivn, opens door. 
Listens. Muffled comes the sound of a dog 
howling.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Crossing herself ; on a voice that keens.] 
God rest his soul ! 



THE CURTAIN DROPS AND IMMEDIATE- 
LY RISES, TO INDICATE MORNING. 



[Baby sixth floor left, wails and the father is 
heard walking up and down and crooning to it. 
It quiets. It is still. Silence. A dog gives 
two sharp barks. Silence. Faint but persistent 
comes the amorous antiphony of two cats. A 
pale white light steals down the shaft. The 
steam is heard cracking and clanking in the 
cold pipes. The door sixth floor left opens,, 
and a yellow light streams down. The man 
pulls up the empty dt{7nb-umter.] 



ALICE ROSTETTER 



2T 



VOICE OF MAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 
Damn that milkman ! Why in hell can't he — 
[Door slams shut. Immediately from the cellar 
comes a cheery young whistle, and the waiter 
flies down; four pairs of milk bottles are put 
on. The cellar door bangs shut.] 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 

[Sleepy, sour.] 
It's the milkman now, Mike. 

VOICE OF MAN SIXTH FLOOR LEFT 
I'm not goin' ter pull up that damned waiter 
again if — 

[The door is shut. The baker's boy puts on 
the bread. He blows the eight whistles with 
lAgor and delight. The door sixth floor right 
opens.] 

VOICE OF WOMAN SIXTH FLOOR RIGHT 
[The easy, cheerful, young voice.] 

It's the bread, Maggie. I'll be pullin' it up. 

[Mrs. Phelan's door is seen opening on a 
crack. As the waiter passes the stage level, 
the hands of Johnny Phelan shoot out and he 
grabs off his mother s milk and bread. The 
waiter is yanked past and up and the pleasant 
voice grows angry.] 

I saw you, johnny Phelan — you good- for- nothin' 

lazy lout. 

[The hand and arm of Johnny Phelan project 
through the crack into the dumb-waiter shaft 
and the fingers of the hand temporarily at-^ 
tached to a nose wriggle in disdain.] 



28 THE widow's veil 

And if ever I get me two hands into your hair — 
[Her door shuts. Johnny Phelan executes, 
unseen, a shuiHe on the oilcloth.} 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Appearing suddenly.] 
Ye black-hearted boy, dancin', and the man lyin* 
there in his coffin cold dead. 

[Mrs. Phelan leans over and listens. In sur- 
prise.] 
There's no keenin' — Not a sob. There's some- 
thing wrong! 

[She knocks, calling] 
Mrs. — Mac — Man — us. 

[The door, right, opens suddenly and sharply 
and Mrs. MacManus is seen. She has on a 
housedrcss and apron and her sleeves are rolled 
up. Her eyes are bright, her cheeks flushed; 
her manner brisk, angry.] 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Good-mornin', Mrs. Phelan, if ye can call it a 
good mornin' when y'r asked to go six ways at 
once and only one pair of feet for the goin' ! 

MRS. PHELAN 
[With a -fine regret in her voice.] 
Then ye've saved him? 

MRS. MacMANUS 
Saved him ! It's mcself that needs savin' now. 
What with — "The newspaper, darlin' " — and — "A 
drink of water, me pretty" — and — "Is the coffee 

reridy, mavourneen" — and It's meat he's yellin*^ 

for now ! 



ALICE ROSTETTER 29 

MRS. PHELAN 
Doctor Platz is the rare wonder. 

MRS. MacMANUS. 
He's not. 'Twas nothin' but the two tonsils in his 
throat started all the roarin' and rampin' and pre- 
parin' us for his death. 

[There's an empty pause.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Looking doivn the shaft; in a lying voice.] 
Now — did I hear the ice-man, Mrs, MacManus? 
MRS. MacMANUS 
[Looking down and lying too.] 
I think maybe ye did. No, 'twas something else, 
MRS. PHELAN 
[Beckoning her closer.] 
I'll be takin' it back to me cousin, the morn. 
MRS. MacMANUS 
[Regretfully, in pleasant reminiscence.] 
It did become me, did it not, Mrs. Phelan? 

MRS. PHELAN 
That it did, Mrs. MacManus. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[Hesitating.] 
Could I — be seein' it a minute? 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Turning left and taking the hat and veil from 
the table near.] 
I have it ready — sewed and the iron goin' over it. 

MRS. MacMANUS 
I wonder if — 

[She listens back.] 
He's readin' the paper. 



•dO THE WIDOW S VEIL 

MRS. PHELAN 
[Handing over the hat and veil.} 
I've the glass with me. 

[Mrs. MacManus puts on the hat and veil, 
straightening the folds.] 

MRS. MacMANUS 
It does hang nice and rich. 

MRS. PHELAN 

Ah, Mrs. MacManus, I'll never be happy till I 

see the like of it on y'r head again ! 

MRS. MacMANUS 

[With a nervous glance over her shoulder.] 

Be givin' me the glass ! 

[She takes it and smiles as she sees the reflec- 
tion.] 
It does look grand. It sets me fine. Mrs. Phelan, 
I never put a thing on me head that pleased me 
more. 

VOICE OF PAT 
[From some distance; kind.] 
Katy, darlin' ! 

MRS. MacMANUS 
[In utter terror.] 
It's himself! 

VOICE OF PAT 
[A little nearer; more insistent.] 
Katy— 

MRS. MacMANUS 

[To him as she grabs off the hat and veil.] 

Stand where ye are! — It's caught, Mrs. Phelan. 

[Loud, back to Pat.] 
Out of the draft. 



ALICE ROSTETTER 31 

[After a moment fraught zvith agony, the veil 
is freed. She bundles it and the hat together 
and thrusts them over to Mrs. Phelan.] 
Tell y'r cousin — 

VOICE OF PAT 
[Irritable.] 
Kate— 

MRS. MacMANUS 
I'm comin', man ! 

The hat's hers and I'm thankin' her for the loan 
and sorry I can't be usin' it. 

[Turning towards the room, ivith terrible 
irony.] 
Is it y'r five pounds of steak, Pat, y're wantin' 
now ? 

[The door shuts behind her.] 

MRS. PHELAN 
Poor soul ! 

[Looking at the door angrily.] 
And him that hearty ! 

[She gives the veil a last sad look and fixing 

it as it hangs grand on her hand.] 
Ah, you never know the wurst till it comes. 

[As she shuts the door in reproach and dis- 
appointment.] 
The poor, pretty young thing. 

[As the curtain begins to descend two sharp 

whistles are heard.] 

VOICE OF JANITOR 
Garbage ! 

CURTAIN. 



FLYING STAG PLAYS 

For the Little Theatre 

Thirty-Five Cents Each. A Year's Subscription /•»• 

eluding All Plays Already Published, Three Dollars 

THE CHESTER MYSTERIES, Th« Nativity and 
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No. I. THE SANDBAR QUEEN, a Melodra- 
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No. 2. NIGHT, a Poetic Drama in One Act, by 
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No. 3. THE ANGEL INTRUDES, a Comedy in 
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No. 5. TWO BLIND BEGGARS AND ONE 
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[ AND OTHERS. ] 

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